Council / Councillor did not breach code of conduct, investigation concludes
Complaint alleged a letter by councillor Ian Scott sent to the local media was anti-Semitic
A SHETLAND elected member has been cleared of breaching the councillors’ code of conduct after an investigation.
The complaint against Shetland Central member Ian Scott centred on a letter he submitted to local media at the height of the heated debate over the local response to the war in Gaza last year.
The complaint alleged that the independent councillor’s comments were offensive and antisemitic – something which Scott had rejected.
However in a ruling by the Standards Commission for Scotland published this week, it was confirmed that the member for Shetland Central did not breach the councillor’s code of conduct.
Scott said this morning (Wednesday) that he was delighted with the decision and added that he had never been in any doubt as to the outcome.
The ruling said the Ethical Standards Commissioner (ESC) – which investigates complaints about the conduct of councillors and MSPs – found that Scott’s letter did not contain any personal derogatory comments about an individual.
It continued: “The ESC further noted that the respondent [Scott] was clear, in the letter, that his viewpoint was not one that equated with anti-Semitism.
“The ESC advised he was of the view that the respondent was entitled to express an opinion on the conflict. As such, the ESC did not consider the respondent’s conduct amounted to a breach of the code.
“The ESC noted, in any event, that the respondent’s comments were value judgements (as opposed to factual statements) in which he expressed his opinions about a matter of public interest.
“The ESC noted, therefore, that it was unlikely that a restriction on his right to freedom of expression (that a finding of a breach of the code would entail) could be justified.”
Having considered the findings, the Standards Commission – which can hold hearings to determine any sanctions – decided that it was not necessary to instruct the ESC to undertake any further investigation.
As such it also conceded that it was not proportionate to hold a hearing on the matter.
Speaking to Shetland News, councillor Scott said acknowledged that the complainer was offended by what he had said in the letter but added that he had always been convinced that his views were not anti-Semitic.
“I am complete relaxed with everything I do and say; I don’t shoot from the hip, I do think about what I say,” he said.
“I am delighted that it has been resolved. It has taken a long time.
“It really never bothered me, but it really upsets my partner. She was really concerned as she was last time round with Bell and Coutts.”
It is the second time Scott has been cleared of allegations of wrongdoing. Back in January 2021, and following a four-month investigation by the ESC, he was cleared of allegations that he had accused council officials of lying.
The independent councillor had been reported by then council convener Malcolm Bell and leader Steven Coutts following a verbal clash in the council chamber in September 2020.
Scott added: “It doesn’t bother me because the worst that can happen is that I can get booted out of the council. That is all that can happen, and life goes on.”
First elected in 2017, the independent councillor confirmed that would likely be putting his name forward again at the next local government elections in 2027.
“I feel it is important that there is at least one on the council who doesn’t go down the route of the magisterial, the executive,” he said. “I enjoy being on the council and I enjoy taking them on.”
Note: Shetland News temporarily unpublished councillor Scott’s letter while the Ethical Standards Commissioner was investigating the complaint. The letter has now been republished here.
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